I've been reading the haemolysed sample thread with interest.
I Don't like pre-evacuated systems:
1) cell damage,
2) tiny fragile veins collapse when attached,
3) I've seen frail old people quite literally implode and get sucked up
into the tube, such is the vacuum.
(level 1 evidence from the dept of anecdotal medicine)
We have a system which offers option of pre-evacuating if you want , or
using the sample bottle as a syringe, for controlled blood drawing
straight into the bottle.
They can be used with conventional needles or adpaters allowing
connection to cannulas, or conventional syringes.
The needles and adaptors are clean and safe in that the hubs are self-
sealing, so same advantage of pre-evacuated when taking multiple
samples.
Oh, the sample tube-cum-syringes are plastic: even I can't break them.
I've never felt the need to take a cap off and squirt stuff in.
The majority of our "haemolysis" samples are traceable, when
investigated, back to docs (various grades) squirting blood into the
sample tube with a syringe and needle. I think they think its a
strawberry milkshake: more froth is better. Apart from causing
haemolysis, this is dangerous and expensive (waste of syringe).
The cost? Who cares if its safer and cleaner!
Factor in the saved syringes, cracked glass tubes and costs of blood
spill/ needle-stick exposure risk and its worth it.
As a professional cynic I expect my unit will shortly have the all-
powerful pre-evacuated system thrust upon us on dubious grounds. I will
gladly eat a large helping of humble pie (with chocolate topping
preferably) if I can keep my current system.
Conflicting interests?
I have no connection at all with the system I use (becton-dickinson,
available with complementary cuddly toy for all orders mentioning my
name), I just think its a good system.
Goat
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